When the Germans occupy Poland, a Kraków couple send Romek (Haley Joel Osment), their 12-year-old son, to the countryside to live with a Catholic family to escape near certain horrors at the hands of the Nazis. His father had tutored him in the tenants and prayers of Catholicism in hopes that he can blend in.
Romek's new foster parents, Gniecio (Olaf Lubaszenko) and Manka (Malgorzata Foremniak), have two sons. The older boy, Vladek (Richard Banel), is not happy about Romek's arrival, but the younger boy, Tolo (Liam Hess), who is somewhat ethereal, takes a liking to Romek.
Under the direction of the village priest (Willem Dafoe), Romek, Vladek, Tolo, and a neighbor girl Maria (Olga Frycz) begin to prepare for their first communion.
In the meantime, the Nazi presence becomes more apparent in the community and many gentile Poles are slaughtered, including Gniecio and Maria's father. As witnesses to these atrocities, the children are terrified and young Tolo becomes like a reincarnation of Jesus. Tolo's faith gives young Romek solace.
Two older boys, Robal (Chiril Vahonin) and Pyra (Wojciech Smolarz), harass Romek, Tolo, Vladek and Maria, and later, while the four friends are spying on Robal and Pyra threatening and stealing from the Jews who are jumping off of trains to escape the Nazi, an incident happens that causes Romek to be caught by the German soldiers. He is terrified he'll be killed but when he is mistaken for a gentile boy, he is paraded around by the Nazi commander as a hero.
Though he is embarrassed about being mistaken as a gentile, Romek doesn't deny it, however one of his young friends makes the ultimate sacrifice.
This is an intense, powerful film and the children actors are just incredible in such difficult roles.
Written and directed by Yurek Bogayevicz.
Run time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
Rated R for some violence and sexual content.
My personal rating: A-
Romek's new foster parents, Gniecio (Olaf Lubaszenko) and Manka (Malgorzata Foremniak), have two sons. The older boy, Vladek (Richard Banel), is not happy about Romek's arrival, but the younger boy, Tolo (Liam Hess), who is somewhat ethereal, takes a liking to Romek.
Under the direction of the village priest (Willem Dafoe), Romek, Vladek, Tolo, and a neighbor girl Maria (Olga Frycz) begin to prepare for their first communion.
In the meantime, the Nazi presence becomes more apparent in the community and many gentile Poles are slaughtered, including Gniecio and Maria's father. As witnesses to these atrocities, the children are terrified and young Tolo becomes like a reincarnation of Jesus. Tolo's faith gives young Romek solace.
Two older boys, Robal (Chiril Vahonin) and Pyra (Wojciech Smolarz), harass Romek, Tolo, Vladek and Maria, and later, while the four friends are spying on Robal and Pyra threatening and stealing from the Jews who are jumping off of trains to escape the Nazi, an incident happens that causes Romek to be caught by the German soldiers. He is terrified he'll be killed but when he is mistaken for a gentile boy, he is paraded around by the Nazi commander as a hero.
Though he is embarrassed about being mistaken as a gentile, Romek doesn't deny it, however one of his young friends makes the ultimate sacrifice.
This is an intense, powerful film and the children actors are just incredible in such difficult roles.
Written and directed by Yurek Bogayevicz.
Run time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
Rated R for some violence and sexual content.
My personal rating: A-
No comments:
Post a Comment